Follow all the action as England begin their Euro 2024 knockout campaign in Gelsenkirchen with a last-16 tie against Slovakia.
While England have an issue on the left side of their defence, Slovakia can claim it as one of their strongest pairings.
England vs Slovakia at a glance
When: Sunday 30 June (18:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
What: UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage here
The partnership of PSG’s Milan Skriniar at left centre-back and David Hancko at left-back — who continues to be linked with a move to an elite European club — played a significant part in Slovakia progressing beyond Group E.
There are no doubts among Slovakia supporters that those two are the best players in the squad. Skriniar and Hancko led a defence that conceded just eight goals across their 10 matches in qualifying, and that kept a clean sheet against Belgium.
If there are doubts over who will provide goals for Slovakia, there are no doubts whatsoever in the pairing whose job it will be to keep them out at the other end.
Arne Slot earned the Liverpool job after transforming the Rotterdam club into one of the most stylish teams in Europe, and the Slovakian centre-back was key to their build-up play.
Hancko’s biggest strength is his variety. No player completed more passes in the Dutch Eredivisie last season (2,671) and he also made the most progressive carries among centre-backs, frequently the beneficiary of a rapid interchange to advance to halfway before playing the line-breaking pass.
His carry and dribble volume is crucial to advancing his team up the field and getting the ball into dangerous areas.
Some of this is due to Feyenoord’s status as one of the Netherlands’ most ball-dominant sides, but it also speaks to his natural attacking instincts.
His hometown Prievidza — a centre for the Czechoslovakian resistance in the Second World War — is also the home of former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, the team he grew up supporting
England captain Harry Kane, who has scored six goals in his last six knockout games, was asked in a news conference ahead of the match if there is a palpable internal shift once elimination threatens.
“Naturally, you get physically stronger and you get sharper as you play more games,” said Kane, who scored in the team’s 1-1 draw with Denmark. “Not just for me, but a lot of the players come into their peak sharpness at the knockout stage.
“This is knockout football now. These tournaments come round quickly and they go quickly. We are going to need a big performance. Less talking now, it’s time to show what we can do.”
England are expecting a tough challenge from Slovakia, who advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.
“They have some great players,” Kane said. “They like to press high and make it difficult for the opponent. It’s going to be a tough game. We are expecting a physical team with a lot of quality.”
Follow all the action as England begin their Euro 2024 knockout campaign in Gelsenkirchen with a last-16 tie against Slovakia.
While England have an issue on the left side of their defence, Slovakia can claim it as one of their strongest pairings.
England vs Slovakia at a glance
When: Sunday 30 June (18:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
What: UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage here
The partnership of PSG’s Milan Skriniar at left centre-back and David Hancko at left-back — who continues to be linked with a move to an elite European club — played a significant part in Slovakia progressing beyond Group E.
There are no doubts among Slovakia supporters that those two are the best players in the squad. Skriniar and Hancko led a defence that conceded just eight goals across their 10 matches in qualifying, and that kept a clean sheet against Belgium.
If there are doubts over who will provide goals for Slovakia, there are no doubts whatsoever in the pairing whose job it will be to keep them out at the other end.
Arne Slot earned the Liverpool job after transforming the Rotterdam club into one of the most stylish teams in Europe, and the Slovakian centre-back was key to their build-up play.
Hancko’s biggest strength is his variety. No player completed more passes in the Dutch Eredivisie last season (2,671) and he also made the most progressive carries among centre-backs, frequently the beneficiary of a rapid interchange to advance to halfway before playing the line-breaking pass.
His carry and dribble volume is crucial to advancing his team up the field and getting the ball into dangerous areas.
Some of this is due to Feyenoord’s status as one of the Netherlands’ most ball-dominant sides, but it also speaks to his natural attacking instincts.
His hometown Prievidza — a centre for the Czechoslovakian resistance in the Second World War — is also the home of former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, the team he grew up supporting
England captain Harry Kane, who has scored six goals in his last six knockout games, was asked in a news conference ahead of the match if there is a palpable internal shift once elimination threatens.
“Naturally, you get physically stronger and you get sharper as you play more games,” said Kane, who scored in the team’s 1-1 draw with Denmark. “Not just for me, but a lot of the players come into their peak sharpness at the knockout stage.
“This is knockout football now. These tournaments come round quickly and they go quickly. We are going to need a big performance. Less talking now, it’s time to show what we can do.”
England are expecting a tough challenge from Slovakia, who advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.
“They have some great players,” Kane said. “They like to press high and make it difficult for the opponent. It’s going to be a tough game. We are expecting a physical team with a lot of quality.”